Research at the FCE-LTER builds on a substantial body of knowledge about oligotrophic estuaries. In particular, we study how changes in hydrology caused by human activities interact with natural disturbances and sea-level rise to affect dynamics in the estuarine ecotone of the Everglades. The greater Everglades ecosystem is the site of the world’s largest ecosystem restoration efforts, with aims to restore freshwater flow into this highly engineered landscape. Our science has shown that ecosystem dynamics in the oligohaline ecotone, where oligotrophic freshwater sloughs meet mangrove forests, is highly sensitive to changes in water sources and nutrient delivery, both of which are impacted by the dual forces of climate change and modifications to water delivery. Early hypotheses guiding FCE I research focused on the idea that ecosystem productivity would be greatest where surface water supplies of marine and freshwater meet. These hypotheses were revised upon the revelation that brackish groundwater discharge (which increases as sea level rises and restoration is stalled) provides an equally important source of phosphorus to the nutrient-poor system. Because large-scale ecosystem modification through restoration is so critical to the Everglades, we are now investigating in earnest the human dimensions of restoration. This includes evaluating the ways in which the growing population in south Florida is becoming increasingly dependent on the Everglades for critical ecosystem services, and exploring mechanisms for effectively communicating our science to local and state partners and to the U.S. congress.